So Don/Ruth/Sonja, you’re new leaders here at Kumeu aren’t you? How have you found it so far this year? What’s been the best thing?

Ruth: Yeah-course I’m a leader!  I’ve found things really great so far! Really interesting and fun!! The best thing for me has been getting to form relationships with the girls in my EQ groups! They are all such amazing and unique women of God! They teach me so much-I love them to bits!!  Also hanging out with them at Easter Camp was heaps of fun!! Especially our traditional butt-pinching greetings.

Donald: So far it’s been good. It’s a lot different being a leader and it has brought with it a number of challenges but I’ve enjoyed so far. The paddock car day was heaps of fun and I reckon we should do it again, but the highlight this year would have to be Easter Camp. One thing I have realised since becoming a leader is the amount of time and effort that the other leaders put in to make everything happen. There is a lot of work and responsibility that they take on for the benefit of the rest of us.

Sonja: Why yes, yes I am. I love it...well mostly ha-ha. No really it’s sweet. Wrestling would definitely have been my highlight this year. I battled it out like 'the rock' well for those of you who weren’t there, that’s what I want you to believe :) DonaldCCaatthhyy,, AAnnaaiiss,, aanndd PPoorrttiiaa

Tell us a little about your past. E.g. where have you come from? What schools have you been to? How many girlfriends/boyfriends you’ve had? Where did you grow up? How many houses have you lived in?

Ruth: I came originally from the UK in 1991, but have since then been living in Silverdale Wainui, until 2004. Then moved to the amazing, farming and wine growing Kumeu. Only ever been to 1 school my whole life, KingsWay-YEAH!! lol. LOL-funny-HAHA!! I’ve only ever and will ever have one boyfriend Paul Michael Gravatt! (sooooo cheeeesy) I grew up in Silverdale/Orewa. I’ve lived in 5 houses!!

Donald: I was born in Helensville and have always lived in Waimauku. I went to Waimauku School and Massey High School and I’m now at Massey University. I’ve lived in three different houses and have had (x/x)3 - (6x4 + 2.345n) girlfriends.

Sonja: Well, I come from a family of 6kids, 5 nephew and nieces. And I love it, big families are the best. I went to Kingsway School for high school that was pretty cool. I live in Kumeu but I was in fielding for most of last year, and am moving back there again in a couple of months.. That’s where all the good skating is.

What lured you in to becoming a leader at Kumeu?

Ruth: I felt challenged by God. To help others come closer to God and to understand just how truly great and amazing he really is!!!! :)

Donald: Nigel.

Sonja: What lured me? God I guess, he gave me great visions about being a leader, and that happily lured me into being a leader.

What sort of things do you do being a leader? Do you get paid for doing it?

Ruth: I get to hang out with my amazing bunch of EQ girls, get to know a lot of people within the reach, have heaps of fun, go to leaders meetings and get more and more inspired about God. I don’t get paid, and I wouldn’t want to either! I just love it soooo much!!

Donald: I help Kent lead an E.Q. team, I help out at the reach, I am a leader at Friday Night Club, which is like the reach but for 7-12 year olds at Riverhead Family Church. I also go on leaders retreats and get to attend leaders meetings. Do we get paid? No, it’s not about money or what we get out of it.

Sonja: ha-ha, na don’t get paid. What things do I do? Well I, lead??

What things would people catch you doing on a weekend?

Ruth: Studying-most likely. But if I'm not studying you would most likely find me hanging out with my boyfriend, friends, family, playing tennis or walking on the beach.

Donald: Motor biking, mountain biking, soccer, church, work, watching the V8 Supercars, uni assignments, washing my car.

Sonja: on a good weekend? I would be at the skatepark on sat and Sunday mornings. I have the best skating buddy, and we hit te pai skatepark whenever we can. Hanging out with mates, watching bands hmm, heaps of different stuff. Embarrassingly enough at the moment. You would catch me studying.

What’s your favorite; type of dessert? Band? Book? Church song?

Ruth: Does coffee count as a desert?? If not-chocolate cake. Love Matchbox 20, Savage Garden, Delirious-it’s an unfair question!!! ‘Redeeming Love’, by Francine Rivers is truly the best book ever written, except for the Bible!!! And my favorite church song would certainly be ‘Majesty’.

Donald: Dessert: Cheesecake. Band(s): Shooting stars/ The Lads. Church song: All is well with my soul. Book: Mover of Men and Mountains. Autobiography of R.G. Letourneau.

Sonja: Desert...apple crumble, with lots of brown sugary crumble. band...classic aerosmith, and the beatles at the moment - but it forever changes. Book? The alchemist by paulo cehlo READ IT. And church song...um. Enter me.

Don, you actually go to a different church on Sundays. Which church is this and why do you go there?

Yeah, I go to Riverhead Presbyterian Family Church. I went to Kumeu up until I was about 12 when my family left and went to Riverhead. It is a small church and there are a lot of older people and we sing some very old songs, but I like going there. I came back to Kumeu 4 years ago to go to The Reach, because there weren’t very many youth at Riverhead. I also come to the Living Room on Sunday nights, which is really good.

Ruth/Sonja you go to Kumeu church on a Sunday. What is it like? Why do you go to church?

Ruth: It’s really nice. I find it really beneficial for my spiritual life as you get to worship God and then learn about how great he is in the sermons. I go to Kumeu because I think it’s the best church ever, and just love it!! The times I’m not there is only if I’m cramming for a test on Monday! Lol

Sonja: I love Kumeu! It’s wild! I go to church to have fellowship, hang out with my mates, and connect with God.

What has been you’re greatest achievement in life?

Ruth: Becoming a follower of Christ and giving my life to him!!

Donald: I got 463 credits in NCEA and 54 of them I got in Maori.

Sonja: Greatest achievement...coming third in the skate comp probably ask me in a year and it will be coming first. Please please fingers crossed.

What do you do other than being a youth leader? How do you find it?

Ruth: I’m a university student at Auckland University! Yay! I’m studying a 4-year degree of a bachelor of planning. (No-not wedding planning, as I keep getting asked-its urban design) I ‘m honestly finding doing university and being a youth leader a lot of work, but at the same time really enjoying it!!!

Donald: I am a student. I am doing an Engineering degree majoring in Mechatronics at Massey University, Albany. I find it quite hard, you have to do a lot of work but it is interesting and you do get a lot of holidays.

Sonja: I go to university, doing psychology I love it! I’m a bit of a geek really but I love learning all about behaviour etc. real interesting. I also work for Eden health a care agency going to different resthomes looking after the residents etc. IT’S LIKE THE BEST JOB EVER

What is your favorite quote/bible verse?

Ruth: Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. Proverbs 31:30-31

Donald: Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. Philippians 4:6-7

Sonja: Favourite bible verse. It’s oh, tough one. Its in john 11:33&36 "When Jesus saw that Mary and the people with her were crying, he was terribly upset ". 36" Jesus wept" I love that god, doesn’t just see our pain, but it becomes his pain and he weeps with us. He hates to see us upset.

Is there anything else you’d like to say to the readers?

Ruth: Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” -That is so true, so go hard for God and trust him!!

Sonja: No not really.